Pulley cleaner



C. STAMOS PULLEY CLEANER Jan. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1952 5 INVENTOR.

C. STAMOS PULLEY CLEANER Jan. 10, 1956 Filed June 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .7 NI 'IZN TOR.

M m M W & w 5 w .d n 0 7 68M 4 a C. STAMOS PULLEY CLEANER Jan. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1952 INVENTOR. 5m

1 3 BY 5M 5% Raw United States PatentO PULLEY CLEANER Chris Stamos, Chicago, Ill, assienor to The United Electric Coal Companies, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application June 21, 1952, Serial No. 294,943 9 Claims. (Cl. 15-2565) The present invention relates to pulley cleaners and, particularly, to an improved cleaner for conveyor belt guide pulleys and the like.

In conveyor belt installations wherein earth materials and the like are conveyed, some of the material falls off the belt onto the pulleys or rollers guiding the belt. The material sticks to and accumulates on the pulleys with the disadvantages that the pulleys fail to operate properly, fail to guide the belt properly and present an uneven or bumpy surface resulting in uneven belt transmission. To prevent the occurrence of accumulation of materials on conveyor belt pulleys, it has been proposed heretofore to employ a fixed scraper having an edge disposed adjacent the pulley and parallel to the axis thereof to remove accumulated materials. However, a scraper blade of the character referred to has to be held rigidly in place to avoid chattering, and for this reason it has been necessary to weld such blades in place. In use, the blades wear very rapidly, so rapidly in fact that the same have to be shifted and readjusted at least once a day.

To accomplish readjustment, it is necessary to unweld the blade, move the same toward the pulley to adjusted position, and then re-weld the blade in position, Usually, a conventional scraper blade will wear out in one week of use. In addition, dirt will pile up on the scraper blade and sand may readily get into the clay and dirt, or other materials, between the scraper and the pulley and have a serious abrading effect on the pulley.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved cleaning means for pulleys and the like that overcomes the disadvantages of conventional scraper blades.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved pulley cleaning means that is not subject to extreme wear, that is readily adjustable, and that prevents build-up of material on or adjacent to the pulley.

According to the present invention, I provide a plurality of small cleaning tools adapted to'be drawn across the surface of a pulley to remove accumulated material, the tools being such with respect to the pulley as to direct material removed from the pulley laterally and downwardly away from the pulley to prevent accumulation of material on the tools or adjacent the pulley. The cleaning tools are adjustable with respect to the surface of the pulley and due to their small size may be conveniently and economically formed of tool steel or the like so as to provide long-wearing characteristics. Accordingly, the present invention obviates the disadvantages of prior scraper or cleaner constructions.

- Another object of the present invention is to provide improved pulley cleaning means including a plurality of small cleaning tools and drive means for driving the tools along the surface of the pulley. It is also an object of the invention to provide means for guiding the movement of the tools, and tool carriages guided by said means for adjustably mounting the tools.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved tools for cleaning conveyor belt pulleys and the like. t

2,729,842 Patented Jan. 10, 1956 ice Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. I

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with a manner of constructing and operating the cleaning device of my invention, I shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodi ment of my invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a conveyor belt, one of the belt pulleys, and the cleaning means of the present invention associated with the pulley;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View, on an enlargedscale, of the pulley cleaner of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the cleaning means of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the cleaning means, the view being taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure l, I have shown the cleaning apparatus of the present invention as associated with a conveyor belt 10 which is suitably supported and guided by a pulley or roller 12, which, in turn, is rotatably supported by a frame 14. The frame includes a pair of spaced vertical 1- beams or the like 16, each of which carries a block 18 pivotally supporting an arm 20 upon which a bearing 22 for rotatably supporting the shaft 24 of the pulley 12 is mounted. At the lower end thereof, each arm 20 carries an adjustable set screw 26 for adjusting the pulley mountmg.

At the opposite side thereof, below the pulley shaft 24, each of the spaced vertical I-beams 16 carries a generally triangular support member 28. As will be appreciated, the support members 28 are mounted in spaced parallel relation to opposite sides of the conveyor belt and are adapted to support the ends of a transverse I-beam 30 which is secured at each end to the supports 28 in any suitable manner, such as by bolts 32. The I- beam 30 forms a basic support for the cleaning means of the present invention, as will be described in detail hereinafter, and adjacent each end thereof is provided with an aperture extending through the web thereof adapted for the passage of one end of a tie rod 34. Each tie rod 34 is provided at its opposite end with an eye adapted for the passage of a bolt 36 by means of which each tie rod 34 is pivotally connected to the respective pulley supporting arm 20. At the end thereof passing through the I-beam 30, each tie rod 34 is threaded for the reception of a pair of nuts 38 by means of which the tie rod is adjustably secured to the I-beam 30 to provide a support, or supporting and holding brace, for the adjustable pulley support. As will be appreciated, the pulley 12 is adjustable with respect to its support so as to vary the level at which the conveyor belt 10 is supported and guided by the pulley. As will become apparent hereinafter, the pulley 12, due to its mounting, is also adjustable With respect to the cleaning means of the present invention.

The cleaning means of the present invention is indicated generally at 40. If reference be made to Figures 2 to 4, it will be appreciated that the cleaning means of the present invention comprises, generally, the l-beam 30, a guide member in the form of an l-bearn 42 supported on the beam 30, a plurality of cleaning tools 44, a motion transmitting means or member in the form of a chain 46 for moving the tools, and a drive means 43 for driving the motion transmitting means or chain 46. Specifically, the guide member or I-beam 42 is of shorter length than the supporting I-beam 30, and is preferably of a length just slightly greater than the length of the pulley. The guide porting plates or the like 50.

3 member 42 is mounted on the beam 30 by suitable sup- At the ends thereof, the web of the I-beam 42 is an away to provide for'the reception of a pair of sprockets 2. Each ofthe sprockets 52 is keyed to a shaft 54 and each shaft is rotatably supported with respect to the beam or guide member,

parallel to the web thereof, at each end by means of roller bearings 56. The sprocket shaft at the drive end of the beam, that is, the shaft of the drive sprocket, extends upwardly through the upper flange of the beam 42 and is guided by a sleeve 58 welded in an aperture pro vided in the flange; An oil seal 60 is also provided in the sleeve 58 about the shaft to prevent entry of dust and dirt to the upper bearing. Each of the bearings is of 1 sealed construction adjacent the sprockets, and each of the lower bearings is provided with a dust cover or defiector plat'e 62. The drive sprocket shaft is also pro vided with a deflector spacer 64, and above the spacer the margin f h flanges! vAt ch d t e on each, of.

the guide rails 94 is curved to provide a generally semicircular path of movement for the carriages. To accommodate the movement of the carriages, and to provide for a take-up of chain slack, the curved portions of each rail are of reduced section, as, is clearly shown in Figure 2. As will be apparent, therguid'e rails 94and beam 42 define an endless path of movement for the carriages, which pathextends about the marginal edges of the beam. To mount the tool carriages 860m. the guide rails the carriag es are preferably formed in'two parts, a body or socket portion '96 for receiving the cleaning tool and a clamp portion 98 adapted to be secured to the body portion by suitable detachable vmeans lsuch as screws 100. Each of the two parts of the carriage includes one of the jaws 92, and the two jaws are provided with opposing slots for the reception of the guide rails, the assembly of the carriages gn the rails being obvious. Each jaw, as is shown in Figure 2, is of relatively narrow width, so that frictional engagement is reduced and the jaws can readily negotiate the turns at the opposite ends of the guide member. As will be apparent from Figure l, the guide As will be apparent, other drive means may be readily the flanges of the beam 42. The housing 76 is generally U-shaped in form, and the bearings 56 are mounted in the legs thereof. The bight portion of the carriage 76 is provided with an aperture therein adapted for the recep tion of a bolt or stud 78. The stud 78 is welded or otherwise secured to the web of the beam 42 and carries a nut 80 by means of which the carriage 76, and thus the take up sprocket, may be adjusted longitudinally of the beam to take up any slack in the chain or motion transmitting member 46. At the outer end thereof, at least one leg of the carriage 76 is preferably provided with a slot or groove adapted to receive portions of the web of the I-beam 42, as is indicated at 82, to guide the movement of the take-up carriage longitudinally of the beam.

The motion transmitting means or member 46 is preferably in the form of a standard continuous or endless chain, and is trained over the sprockets 52 in a conventional manner for travel in a generally horizontal plane about the web of the beam 42. At spaced points, the chain 46 is provided with attachments 84 by means of each of which a tool carriage 86 may be secured to the chain. The tool carriages 86 are preferably provided at evenly spaced points on the chain, and may be of any desired number. The carriages may be formed in various manners and each is provided with a bore defining a tool socket adapted for the reception of one of the cleaning tools '44. The tools 44 each preferably comprise a cylindrical shank portion and, a specially formed tool face portion. The tool socket provided in each carriage is adapted for the reception of the cylindrical shank portion of one of the tools, and each of the carriages 86 is provided with a tapped bore extending radially of the tool socket adapted for the reception of a set screw 88 by means of which the tool may be adjustably secured to the carriage within the tool socket. The set screw of each carriage is preferably provided with a lock nut 90 to lock the screw in tool holding position.

The tool carriages 86 each includes a pair of opposed jaws or the like .92 by means of which the carriage engages guide rails 94 provided on the outer edges of the I-bearn 42. The guide rails 94 are provided on each flange of the I-beam 42 and may be continuous, or may be formed of several pieces, and welded or otherwise secured to the outersurface of the I-beam flanges and extending beyond member and carriages are such as to define a plane of movement for the tools within which the axis of the pulley lies. While the relationship is preferably as stated, it will be appreciated'that this particular feature need not be adhered to to provide an eflicient cleaning means for conveyor belt pulleys and the like.

In the drawings, the cutting portion of the cleaning tool of the present invention is shown in its preferred form, wherein the outer cutting portion of the same is provided'with an inclined lateral cutting face 102, which is disposed forwardly of the tool in the direction of movement ofthetool, so as to present an inclined face opposed to the direction of pulley'rotation. The purposes and advantages of such preferred tool will be pointed out in detail hereinafter. While the tool is preferably formed as stated, it will be apparent that other structures may be advantageously utilized.

'Inuse andcperat ion, the frame of the conveyor is formed in the manner stated, and is provided with the triangular supports 28. The cleaning apparatus 40 is mounted by the l-beam 30 on the supports 28 and the tie rod connections are made, the cleaningm'eans or apparatus of the invention beingflpreferably so mounted with respect to the pulley or drum as to be'disposed adjacent the path of downward movement of the pulley, and preferably with the tools located substantially on a horizontal plane passing through the pulley axis;

After assembly of the apparatus, the motor 70, or other suitable drive means, may be actuated to rotate the drive sprocket 52 to effect movement 'of the motion transmitting member or chain, in substantially a horizontal plane, about the web of the beam 42. Accordingly, the tool carriages 86 will be moved along the path defined by'the guide rails 94 in spaced parallel relation to the axis of the pulley. The tools 44 are adjustably mounted on the carriages by means of the set screws 88, so that the outer ends of the tools may be readily and conveniently set for movement immediately adjacent the peripheral surface of the'pulley. Since the tools are each of relatively smallsize, the same canbe conveniently and economically formed of wear resistant materials,such as tool steel, carboloy, or the like. The tools 44 ar'e, drawn across the pulley, in a .path parallel to the axis of the pulley, by the chain and drive means, with the outer ends of the tools being disposed adjacent the pulley to remove material accumulated on the 'pulley. The inclined face 102 of each toolis disposed forwardly in the direction of movement of the tool across the pulley face so that, as the pulley rotates downwardly, material removed from the pulley will be directed laterally away from the tool and thepulley and,'due to the rotation of the pulley and the force of gravity, downwardly out of the vicinity of the pulley and cleaner.

As will be appreciated from n the foregoing, the carriages and guide rails form an endless track or guide for the cleaning tools, and the chain and motor a drive means therefor. The drive means may take physical embodiments other than that shown, but the structure shown and described herein is preferred. For example, the cleaning tools could be provided only on the run of the chain adjacent the pulley, and the tools could be reciprocated to effect the described cleaning action. In such case, the tools could present an inclined face on each side thereof. Other manners of moving the tools will readily suggest themselves. Likewise, it will be appreciated that other constructional details may be varied, and that the apparatus is capable of embodiment in various sizes.

In one particular embodiment, I have found that a six foot long pulley or roller having a diameter of two and one-half feet and rotated at a speed of 160 R. P. M. can be conveniently and efficiently cleaned by utilization of the apparatus of my invention, wherein the chain is ap proximately thirteen feet long, the sprockets are mounted on six foot centers, six tools are provided, the tools being spaced A from the drum surface, and the chain is moved approximately five feet per minute. It will be appreciated, however, that the foregoing is merely exemplary of the various physical embodiments that the cleaning apparatus of my invention may take.

While I have described what I regard to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pulley cleaner for cleaning the surface of a cylindrical pulley or the like, comprising a cleaning tool to be positioned with the outer end thereof immediately adjacent and practically in engagement with the cylindrical surface of the pulley, drive means connected to said tool to draw said tool longitudinally acrossthe cylindrical surface of the pulley in a path substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulley, and guide means rigidly supporting said tool for movement solely in said path. said tool comprising the sole type of cleaning instrumentality for cleaning the pulley surface, said tool being moved by said drive means and supported by said guide means to scrape mud, clay and the like packed on the pulley surface directlv oil of the cylindrical surface of the pulley.

2. A pulley cleaner for cleaning the surface of a cylind rical pulley or the like, comprising at least one cleaning tool to be positioned with the outer end thereof immediately adjacent and substantially in engagement with the cylindrical surface of the pulley, rigid frame means, a drive assembly supported on said frame means, said drive assembly including a drive member extending parallel to the axis of the pulley in spaced parallel relation to the cylindrical surface of the pulley, said tool being connected to said drive member at the inner end thereof, said drive assembly driving said drive member to move said tool in a path longitudinally along the cylindrical surface of the pulley, and rigid guide means supported. on said frame means and operatively associated with said tool rigidly to support said tool for movement solely in said path, said tool comprising the sole type of cleaning instrumentality for cleaning the pulley surface, said tool being moved by said drive member and rigidly supported by said rigid guide means to cut mud, clay and the like packed on the pulley surface directly off of the cylindrical surface of the pulley.

3. A pulley cleaner for cleaning the surface of a cylindrical pulley, comprising at least one rigid generally cylindrical cleaning tool of small diameter to be positioned with the outer end thereof immediately adjacent and substantially in engagement with the cylindrical surface of the pulley, a holder fixedly supporting said tool at the inner end thereof, a rigid frame, a drive assembly supported on said frame, said drive assembly including a.

drive member supported by said frame and extending parallel to the axis of the pulley in spaced parallel relation to the cylindrical surface of the pulley, said tool holder being connected to said drive member, said drive assembly driving said drive member to move said tool in a path longitudinally along the cylindrical surface of the pulley, and a rigid guide track formed on said frame in spaced parallel relation to the pulley surface, said tool holder including portions engaging said guide track rigidly to support said tool for movement solely in said path, said tool comprising the sole type of cleaning instrumentality for cleaning the pulley surface, said tool being moved by said drive member and rigidly supported by said rigid holder and guide track to cut mud, clay and the like packed on the pulley surface directly off of the cylindrical surface of the pulley.

4. A pulley cleaner comprising a rigid guide member to be mounted in spaced parallel relation to the axis of a pulley, a plurality of cleaning tools mounted on and rigidly supported by said guide member for movement solely in a path parallel to the axis of the pulley, said tools being adjustable on said guide member to be positioned with the outer ends thereof closely adjacent and practically in engagement with the peripheral surface of the pulley, a motion transmitting member mounted on said guide member generally parallel to the path of movement of said tools, said tools being connected at spaced points to said motion transmitting member, and means for driving said motion transmitting member, said tools comprising the sole means of cleaning the pulley surface, said tools being moved by said motion transmitting memher and rigidly supported by said guide member to cut material packed on the pulley surface directly off of the surface of the pulley.

5. A pulley cleaner comprising a rigid guide member to be mounted parallel to the axis of a pulley in spaced parallel relation to the peripheral surface of the pulley, at least one rigid tool carriage movably mounted on said guide member, said guide member including a guide track defining a path of movement for each carriage parallel to the peripheral surface of the pulley, each carriage including portions directly engaging said guide track rigidly to support each carriage for movement solely in said path, a rigid cleaning tool fixedly secured to each carriage to be positioned with the outer end thereof closely adjacent and practically in engagement with the peripheral surface of the pulley, a motion transmitting member mounted on said guide member generally parallel to the path of car riage movement, each carriage being connected to said motion transmitting member, and means for driving said motion transmitting member.

6. A pulley cleaner comprising a rigid guide member to be mounted parallel to the axis of a pulley in spaced parallel relation to the peripheral surface of the pulley, at least one rigid tool carriage movably mounted on said guide member, said guide member defining a path of movement for each carriage parallel to the peripheral surface of the pulley, each tool carriage including portions directly engaging said guide member rigidly to support each tool carriage for movement solely in said path, a rigid cleaning tool adjustably mounted in and fixedly secured to each carriage to be positioned with the outer end thereof closely adjacent and practically in engagement with the peripheral surface of the pulley, a motion transmitting member mounted on said guide member generally parallel to the path of carriage movement, each carriage being connected to said motion transmitting member, and means for driving said motion transmitting member, each tool presenting a cutting portion including a lateral face disposed to the forward side of the tool in the direction of tool movement, said tool face presenting an inclined surface opposed to the direction of pulley rotation, said tools comprising the sole means of cleaning the pulley surface, said tools being moved by said motion transmitting member and rigidly supported by said cartool carriages mounted in spaced relation on said guide i member, each of said carriages including portions directly engaging said guide track rigidly to support said carriages for movement solely in said path, an endless motion transmitting member mounted on said guide member for movement in a path parallel to the path of movement defined by said guide tracks, said carriages being connected to said motion transmitting member in spaced relation, means for driving said motion transmitting memher, and a rigid cleaning tool adjustably mountedin and fixedly secured in each of said carriages, said tools being i adjustable in said carriages to dispose the outer end of each tool immediately adjacent and practically in engagement with the peripheral surface of the pulley when said carriages are moved along said one run of the path of movement, said tools comprising the sole means of cleaning the pulley surface, said tools being moved by said motion transmittin member and rigidly supported by said carriages and said guide track to cut material packed on the pulley surface directly off of the surface of the pulley.

8. A pulley cleaner comprising a rigid guide member mounted parallel to the axis of a pulley and in spaced parallel relation to the peripheral surface of the pulley, said guide member defining an endless path of movement including one run disposed adjacent to and in spaced parallel relation to the peripheral surface of the pulley in an axial direction, a plurality of rigid tool carriages mounted in spaced relation on and rigidly supported by said guide member for movement in said path, a pair of sprockets rotatably supported by said guide member at the opposite ends of said one run of said path, an endless drive member mounted on said sprockets, one of said sprockets being adjustable on said guide member for taking up slack in said drive member, each of said carriages being connected to said drive member, means for driving said drive member, and a rigid cleaning tool adjustably mounted and fixedly secured in each of said carriages, said tools being adjustable in said carriages to dispose the outer end of each tool immediately adjacent and practically in engagement with the peripheral surface of the pulley when said carriages move along said one run of said path of movement, each of said tools presenting a cutting portion including a lateral face disposed to' the forward side of the tool in the direction of tool movement, said tool face presenting an inclined surface opposed to the direction of pulley rotation, said tools as thus adjusted being adapted to be drawn across the'peripheralsurface of the pulley to remove materials accumul'ated'on the peripheral surface of the pulley, said tool face directing the material removed from the surface of the pulley downwardly and outwardly with respect to the pulley.

9. A cleaner for conveyor belt pulleys and the like comprising a rigid beam of substantially the same length as the pulley disposed in spaced parallel relation to the axis of the pulley to such side of the pulley that the pulley movement past said beam is downwardly, said beam including spaced parallel rigid guide rails defining an endless path of movement about the marginal edges of said beam, a plurality of movable carriages mounted and rigidly supported on' said guide rails for rnovement solely in said path, said carriages each including a tool socket and a set screw extending into said socket, a tool adjustably mounted in the tool socket of each carriage and fixedly secured therein by the associated set screw, said guide rails and said carriages defining a plane of movement for said tools within which the axis of the pulley lies, said tools being adjustable in said carriages to dispose the outer ends thereof immediately adjacent and practically in engagement with the peripheral surface of the pulley, a pair of sprockets mounted at the opposite ends of said beam, means for driving time of said sprockets, a chain reaved over said sprockets, the other of said sprockets being adjustably mounted on said beam to take up slack in said chain, said carriages being secured to said chain at spaced points, each of said tools presenting an inclined lateral face adjacent the outer end thereof facing in the direction of tool movement and inclined downwardly, so as to present an inclined face to material on the surface of the pulley, said tools comprising the sole means for cleaning the pulley surface and as thus adjusted being rigidly supported for movement, solely in said path,.said drive means rotating said one sprocket to drive said chain and forcibly move said tools across the peripheral surface of the pulley to cut clay, mud and like materials packed and accumulated on the peripheral surface of the pulley off of the pulley, the inclined face of each tool directing the material cut from the pulley surface by said tools laterally and downwardly away from the pulley and the cleaner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,883 Dodge Jan. 8, 1889 481,866 Harvey Aug. 30, 1892 491,953 Preston Feb. 14, 1893 789,628 Rhodes May 9, 1905 1,728,131 Noecker Sept. 10, 1929 1,871,503 Duesberg Aug. 16, 1932 2,203,273 Williams M. June 4, 1940 2,227,776 Anderson Jan. 7, 1941 2,549,718 Spang Apr. 17, 1951 

